Maria is part of the Presencing Institute and U-school for transformation, which focuses on societal systems innovation. She is a co-host for Deep U retreats, an inner transformation accelerator, and a Heartfulness trainer. Maria is initiating a regenerative project in Portugal for global well-being.

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Maria Daniel Brás

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">MARIA DANIEL BRÁS met up with VANESSA PATEL in February 2024 at Kanha Shanti Vanam, where Maria was co-conducting a 4-day immersive experience in Deep U, along with Vasco Gaspar and Stanislas Lajugie. They blended knowledge and tools from various heart-centered, awareness-based, and trauma-informed approaches, to enable connectedness and innate inner wisdom. Vanessa was a participant in the workshop, and invited Maria to share more about her experiences.</h4>&nbsp;Q: I’ve just completed the Deep U retreat with you, Vasco, and Stan, and I came to realize that you are fully trained in Theory U and have worked with Otto Scharmer. Can you explain a little more about what that is?MDB: I work at the Presencing Institute, which was co-founded by Otto Scharmer and the MIT Sloan School of Management teachers. He wrote the book, Leading from the Emerging Future, with Katrin Kaufer on how true change happens in the world. It doesn’t go directly from problem to solution; you need an inner journey to get there. That’s why it’s called Theory U. You stop to see what’s around you, and you stop downloading the old patterns so you are ready to see the new. Like artists who keep looking at a landscape for many hours, then stop, go within, and something emerges from that space. That’s how creativity works.Otto and colleagues interviewed many people, multi-level innovators from all sorts of professions, and they found that this is how the real process of transformation happens. We may say it’s new, but it’s actually replicating what we already know from the past.The Presencing Institute is focused on outer transformation, how to reinvent the systems that we have in society, like finance, education, governance, etc. It gives changemakers the tools for free under Creative Commons. It’s all about elevating consciousness.It’s connected with Heartfulness as well. Deep U, in particular, is a program that focuses on the inner journey, and on transforming, changing, and opening our inner system. Then, we are ready for outer transformation.Q: It helped to access the inner system, to what lies deep within, and that emerged through some of the exercises we did. It helped my spiritual process in that it gave me glimpses into parts of myself I hadn’t really thought about. That was a revelation for me.MDB: It definitely gives us more awareness into our unconscious patterns in our day-to-day lives, either because we are meant to be that way because of our nervous system, or because of what happens in our minds.Then we create the layers, the blockages that stop us from being able to connect with others and ourselves in a different way. Sometimes, we are very critical of ourselves. It’s really about being aware of those layers and being able to take decisions to remove them, for example, by doing practices like Heartfulness Cleaning and other techniques, and also by doing therapy. Without those layers, we can be better toward ourselves, toward others, and toward nature.Q: How many of these Deep U workshops have you done so far?MDB: This was the seventeenth one, and the first in Asia. Most have been in Europe, and one in the US.Q: Do you design such programs for corporates?MDB: That is a major part of Vasco’s work.Q: I hope you do many more. It’s a very interesting approach—a blend of spiritual techniques, and techniques based on psychology and self-exploration. What kind of feedback have you had so far? Have you seen shifts in people?MDB: The participants are the best people to answer! We have heard very beautiful things. One that stood out was someone who said, “It was the first time I was able to be myself.” That is strong. We are very grateful for that.Q: As you said, this program helps to remove barriers, and shows that it’s okay to be yourself and not apologize for it.MDB: We create a safe space together. We hope people feel safe enough for that opening, and through the tools and technologies we share, they find ideas on how to do that for themselves.Q: That was a big part of my own experience. Not only did I feel safe and very supported, it was almost a sacred space that enabled me to explore myself. Can you tell me a little bit about your own spiritual journey? What brought you to where you are now?MDB: I don’t know exactly when it started. As a child I was at a Catholic school, because in Portugal the main religion is Catholicism and we had sessions at school to learn about Jesus and God. I remember even at the age of five questioning the stories we were told. I had a kind of crisis at that age, thinking that God needed to be different, because why was there so much suffering? I remember the moment clearly. I was angry, because I was thinking about my grandmother, who was a victim of domestic violence. I thought, “Is this the God that they speak about?” And I decided I didn’t believe in religion.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Deep U is a program that focuses on the inner journey, and on transforming, changing, and opening our inner system.</h4><hr><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u2_85a5d28001.webp" alt="deep-u2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_deep_u2_85a5d28001.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_deep_u2_85a5d28001.webp 600w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u2_85a5d28001.webp 600w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;At the same time, several times a day, not only when I was in need, I was speaking to an entity that was bigger than myself, and hoping that being would listen. I was very fortunate to have an inner voice that somehow knew what to do. But I wasn’t super aware of it. That came much later and now I am aware of it.Heartfulness Meditation is a recent practice for me. My husband Vasco was meditating, but I had a very rational mind because of the lack of trust I felt about God. I took refuge in science, and everything that couldn’t be explained was hard for me to believe. When Vasco became a Heartfulness trainer, he offered to introduce me to the practice. He didn’t tell me anything about how it worked, but at the end of the first session I started to cry and said, “Thank you for cleaning me.” After the second session, I said, “I know where the light is.” These words came out of me, I don’t know how. Since then, I have been meditating.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u3_8ecac52ec9.webp" alt="deep-u3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_deep_u3_8ecac52ec9.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_deep_u3_8ecac52ec9.webp 505w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u3_8ecac52ec9.webp 505w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">I was very fortunate to have an inner voice that somehow knew what to do.&nbsp;</h4><hr>Q: What were your takeaways and insights about this particular Deep U retreat that we just did? There was more of a spiritual approach to it than you have done previously.MDB: Yes, that’s correct. In every program we introduce people to Heartfulness, that’s the main purpose. But here in Kanha, it’s obvious. Just being in this environment is transformational. We can take ourselves deeper, faster, potentially more than in other programs we have done. The transformation is always part of it, but here Heartfulness is so present, including through the volunteers who helped us create the experiences.Usually, a workshop is intimate, with around twenty participants; here, there were almost 100. It was an experiment to see if it would work. The ecosystem and the volunteer attitude that exist here are beautiful. They represent how we can live from a different place than we usually live in our society, especially in the West. Sometimes those concepts are forgotten, and seeing everyone so involved is beautiful. People realize how many hearts need to be open to do this work.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Just being in this environment is transformational.&nbsp; We can take ourselves deeper, faster,&nbsp; potentially more than in other programs we have done.&nbsp;</h4><hr><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u4_ba3dc18474.webp" alt="deep-u4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_deep_u4_ba3dc18474.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_deep_u4_ba3dc18474.webp 600w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u4_ba3dc18474.webp 600w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;Q: That is special, to acknowledge the people who were involved in the background, who were facilitating the daily flow of activities.MDB: And of course, the participants meditated together with others in the meditation hall and listened to Daaji speak. Spirituality is directly presented here, whereas in programs in the West, sometimes it is in the background, sustaining everything. We can’t always talk directly about spirituality, as some people might not be ready for it. This program has given glimpses of how to speak about it.Q: So that gives you the opportunity to offer more. Can you explain the concept you introduced in the workshop of giftivism, paying it forward? Is it that whatever you feel you received you are putting forward to somebody else who can benefit from it?MDB: That was actually an inspiration from the very first program. The first time I came to India, we stopped in Kanha for twenty-four hours. It was barren land at the time. We went to Ahmedabad for a retreat with Nipun Mehta called Gandhi 3.0, on “kindorism,” the opposite of terrorism. We didn’t know what to do with it. It was such a restructuring of our way of being, our Western society, where you always give something in exchange, right? It was so beautiful, and changed us. We really wanted to implement it in our program.So Deep U became an incubator for the kindness factor. For example, we involve people who have done the program to stitch the little felt hearts every participant receives and gives to others. There are people gifting their time and their knowledge. We invite people to pay it forward. The program doesn’t have a fixed price; everyone is invited to give a donation or volunteer their time, or give whatever multiple form of capital they have. It’s not transactional. It’s important to keep the chain going, because if we keep kindness to ourselves, then what is the impact?&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u5_834a8742b4.webp" alt="deep-u5.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_deep_u5_834a8742b4.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_deep_u5_834a8742b4.webp 505w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u5_834a8742b4.webp 505w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">While it’s important to be kind toward ourselves,&nbsp; we can expand and have an impact in the world.&nbsp; Kindness touches people,&nbsp; and they are transformed by it.&nbsp;</h4><hr>While it’s important to be kind toward ourselves, we can expand and have an impact in the world. Kindness touches people, and they are transformed by it. That’s why Deep U is an incubator for kindness and for pay it forward. It’s all about service that gives rise to hope and doing it for the next person. I feel very grateful and blessed because these programs are embedded in a sense of service, and that’s a beautiful way to live.Q: That stood out. So did the fact that participation in each workshop exercise was a choice: “Let me invite you to take part if you feel you are ready.” That invitation was so important, especially for those who are hesitating. The approach was so soft. Sometimes we forget that people are not always ready to leave their safe space and dive into unfamiliar territory, yet they feel pressure to participate despite their reservations.MDB: It’s like our meditation. The subtle approach gets a better response than the harsh push, right? Everything is an invitation. If someone is not ready, it’s okay. Maybe later they will be. But they need to feel safe and that they are not missing the train.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u6_d937db362f.webp" alt="deep-u6.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_deep_u6_d937db362f.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_deep_u6_d937db362f.webp 505w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u6_d937db362f.webp 505w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">It’s like our meditation.&nbsp; The subtle approach gets a better response&nbsp; than the harsh push, right? Everything is an invitation.&nbsp;</h4><hr>Q: You said you had an inner voice growing up. We’re so used to being told that the voice is outside. We don’t know to listen to this little voice until, in your case, as an adult you became conscious of it and started listening to it.MDB: I think it was because I was an only child and spent a lot of time alone. Also, my cousin and I grew up together. He’s three months older, and he has a sister. They were always fighting, whereas I found peace being by myself. In those moments alone, I heard the voice inside more clearly. It wasn’t always loud; almost like a gut feeling, and that kept me in balance all these years. It made me seek the person within for guidance.Q: What’s next for you and the Deep U team?MDB: This retreat happened as an invitation from Daaji and the feedback has been good. We are receiving requests to do it again, here and in Europe. We are open to invitations to see where they lead us!Q: Thank you so much Maria, it’s been such a pleasure.MDB: Thank you Vanessa.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL</h4><hr>&nbsp;

Deep U

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Maria Montessori

Humanity's Builders

The 19-year-old twins have worked for such causes as girls’ education, climate justice, gender equality and inclusivity. They have their own non-profit, The World With MNR, that uses advocacy, storytelling and development to take action and inspire others. They have covered the Social Good Summit in New York City, the Girl Up Leadership Summit in Washington D.C., and done interviews with Justin Trudeau, Malala Yousafzai, and Madame Christine Lagarde. They have received several awards, including the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award. Recently they released a documentary on the status of girls’ education in Pakistan.

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Mariam and Nivaal Rehman

<h4>MARYAM and NIVAAL REHMAN became activists when they were eight years old, inspiring girls in their village in Pakistan to continue their education. The now 19-year-old twins have since worked for such causes as girls’ education, climate justice, gender equality and inclusivity. They have their own non-profit, The World With MNR, that uses advocacy, storytelling and development to take action and inspire others to do the same.</h4><h4>They have used their social media and YouTube channels to cover several events, including the Social Good Summit in New York City, the Girl Up Leadership Summit in Washington D.C., and interviews with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, and Madame Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank. They have received several awards, including the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award. Recently they released a documentary on the status of girls’ education in Pakistan, and held global screenings to spark further conversation and inspire action.</h4>“Activism is my rent for living on the planet,” is a very powerful quote by Alice Walker that has become one of the mantras we live by. For us, activism is a responsibility. We feel the need to stand up for causes like gender equality, climate justice, and inclusivity, because it is in our hands to make the world a better place. As global citizens, we have to become informed, understand global issues, and resolve them. We shouldn’t settle for a world with inequalities, one in which we don’t treat our planet well, and one in which we don’t give each other dignity and respect. We humans take so much from our planet that we truly need to pay “our rent” for living here. In our journey, we have also learned that we can’t do it alone. Others need to get involved, too. We have always aimed to inspire others to take action.&nbsp;Here are our top three tips to get started:&nbsp;<h4>Start with one cause&nbsp;</h4>To be effective as an activist, pick a cause and start taking action, then expand from there. You may be wondering how it’s possible to narrow it down to one cause, especially with so many issues in the world, but we recommend that you start with something local in your community. You don’t have to travel to the other side of the world to make a difference, because issues of global importance persist in our own backyards, even if we don’t recognize them at first. Often, we are best equipped to tackle local challenges, because in doing so, we can use our understanding of our communities, volunteer on the ground, and have a lasting impact.&nbsp;<hr>For us, activism is a responsibility. We feel the need to stand up for causes like gender equality, climate justice, and inclusivity, because it is in our hands to make the world a better place. As global citizens, we have to become informed, understand global issues, and resolve them.<hr>When we began our journey more than ten years ago, we started by recognizing that girls in a school in our village in Pakistan were quitting school when they reached Grade 5. We resolved to fix the issue by understanding the barriers to education they faced. We learned that girls were quitting because their families thought it would be best if they started to work to support them financially, not recognizing the long-term benefits of education for girls. We worked to inspire the girls in our village to continue their education, through workshops, and spoke to their parents about the benefits of educating their daughters. Some of the girls went on to high school, and we are continuing to work with the next generation of kids, to ensure they have the opportunity to continue their education, too.<h4>Be informed</h4>Taking action for global issues is only half of activism. First, it is essential to understand those issues, including the background, on-the-ground realities, and ultimately how best to contribute to resolving the challenges. Make sure you don’t end up doing more harm than good, which makes this research phase critical before you begin your work. The best way to conduct research is through consulting a variety of sources, including credible books, articles, scholarly journals, films, and videos. Try your best to get a holistic overview of the topic, and ultimately decide what is your stance. As much as you may try to stay neutral when trying to understand global issues, it is also important to note that, as Desmond Tutu says, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Therefore, try to understand all sides of the situation, and from there you can start to understand the best course of action, which will require further research.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/activism2_img_a82c1aef8f.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T13:10:15.876Z" alt="activism2"><h4>Talent + Cause = Change&nbsp;</h4>We have created this activism formula to help you on your journey. Combine your talents with the causes you are passionate about, and make a difference. An example of this is when we combined our talent for filmmaking and storytelling with the cause of girls’ education, and created change by launching a documentary in Pakistan. Our film features the girls in our village, and changemakers around the country as well. We held screenings of the film worldwide and are doing virtual events now to increase its impact. You can do the same by applying this formula in your journey.&nbsp;Over the years, we have had incredible opportunities to support the rights of girls all over the world. While many people see the end results of our journey, there has been a long process of learning, research, and ultimately action. We interviewed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Malala Yousafzai for the Malala Fund’s first-ever Facebook Live. We attended the G7 Finance and Development Ministers’ Meetings in 2018 to urge world leaders like the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, to invest in girls’ education. We even became filmmakers for Disney and the UN Girl Up Campaign’s Dream Big Princess project, which raised a million dollars for programs for girls around the world and shared the inspiring stories of incredible women with millions of families.&nbsp;We were honored to start working with girls in our village in Pakistan, and eventually to advocate for girls around the world at platforms like the G7 summit, and we’re just getting started. We think that our journey shows the potential of activism, and demonstrates that if you stay dedicated to a cause you can make a difference. We urge you to see our story as your motivation to take action for the causes you believe in, and know that your actions will have an impact!<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Article by MARYAM and NIVAAL REHMAN</h4><hr>

Activism

Marilyn is Emeritus Professor of Molecular Embryology at University College London. She has researched life at the level of molecules and at a cellular level. Her work as a scientist over 60 years has involved DNA replication and repair, the genetics of bacteria and their viruses, amoeboid cell signaling and aggregation, single cell molecular biology and pre-implantation diagnosis, stem cells and regenerative medicine, gene transcription and epigenetic regulation in embryonic development, and the development of a prophylactic cancer vaccine.

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Marilyn Monk

A hierarchy of consciousness

Marilyn has been with the Charter for Compassion since 2013 and is currently the Executive Director. Her background has been primarily in higher education and curriculum development. She has also worked with Independent Broadcasting Associates on National Public Radio, the BBC and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and in organizational development, specializing in instructional design work, strategic planning and leadership. She has developed training content on race and social justice initiatives.

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Marilyn Turkovich

From tolerance to appreciation

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Marilyn vos Savant

Observation

Mark is the Founder of Education 4 Peace, a Swiss-based foundation that promotes the integration of self-awareness, quality presence, and active listening into educational curriculums for youth. He is part of the founding team of the Spirit of Humanity Forum, a biennial event held in Reykjavik, Iceland, and is also a published author.

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Maria Daniel Brás

Maria Montessori

Mariam and Nivaal Rehman

Marilyn Monk

Marilyn Turkovich

Marilyn vos Savant

Mark Milton

Mark Twain

Marshall B. Rosenberg

Martha Graham

Martin Buber

Martin Luther King Jr.